Title: Effect of flocculant on microbial populations and function in Chem-Bioflocculation (CBF) treatment process using PCR-DGGE

Authors: Feng Wang, Siqing Xia, Dianhai Yang

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China. ' State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China. ' State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

Abstract: The group-specific primers were applied to investigate microbial communities in Chem-Bioflocculation (CBF) reactor by PCR-DGGE method. α-proteobacteria, β-proteobacteria, actinomycetes and acidobacterium, were analysed by using diversity index at different dosage of Polyaluminium Ferric Chloride (PAFC) based on DGGE patterns. Clustering analysis showed that community structure of specific bacteria groups changed when flocculant dosage was adjusted, but flocculant dosage had dissimilar effect on the community structure of different bacteria group. α-proteobacteria possibly was the most influential populations relative to biological function in CBF reactor. The biological function should be inhibited when the flocculant dosage exceeded 80 mg/L.

Keywords: CBF treatment; DGGE; community diversity; flocculant dosage; microbial populations; chem-bioflocculation; cluster analysis; wastewater treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.027224

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.38 No.3, pp.235 - 244

Published online: 18 Jul 2009 *

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